This companion to the Penguin translation of Plutarch's Life of Pericles is divided into three parts. The introduction covers Pericles' life, writings and method of work; the biographical genre; and the portrayal of Pericles by earlier writers. There follows a commentary on the translation, and finally there is a series of useful endnotes on such topics as the treatment of Pericles by Attic comic poets; the historicity of the Peace of Callias and the Congress Decree; and the fortunes of members of Pericles' family.

This is a provocative explanation of why Pericles insisted power was the only guarantee of Athens' survival and flourishing.

The definitive biography of the legendary "first citizen of Athens" Pericles has the rare distinction of giving his name to an entire period of history, embodying what has often been taken as the golden age of the ancient Greek world. "Periclean" Athens witnessed tumultuous political and military events, and achievements of the highest order in philosophy, drama, poetry, oratory, and architecture. Pericles of Athens is the first book in decades to reassess the life and legacy of one of the greatest generals, orators, and statesmen of the classical world. In this compelling critical biography, Vincent Azoulay takes a fresh look at both the classical and modern reception of Pericles, recognizing his achievements as well as his failings. From Thucydides and Plutarch to Voltaire and Hegel, ancient and modern authors have questioned Pericles’s relationship with democracy and Athenian society. This is the enigma that Azoulay investigates in this groundbreaking book. Pericles of Athens offers a balanced look at the complex life and afterlife of the legendary "first citizen of Athens."

Plutarch's Life of Pericles is one of the outstanding works of ancient biography. Called by some a coward and others a boor, Pericles was a genius as a statesman. He ruled Athens like a monarch between 441 and 430 B.C., a period of great political and intellectual achievement. In the first comprehensive commentary in this century on Plutarch's text, Philip Stadter explores both the literary and historical aspects of this extraordinary work, which is included here in Greek in its entirety. In an extensive introduction, Stadter considers the broad questions of the biography's structure, its place and importance within Plutarch's body of literary works, and its relation to its companion piece, the Fabius Maximus. He discussed Plutarch's historical method and argues that the biographer's innovative and thorough use of sources, especially contemporary histories, make Pericles particularly valuable to modern scholars. Examining the literary devices that shape and organize the work, Stadter analyzes the Greek text line by line. A detailed study of word usage and meaning complements grammatical and lexicographical notes that make the peculiarities of Plutarch's Greek accessible to readers unfamiliar with the original text. This evaluation of Plutarch's biographical technique is exceptional in its combination of archaeological, epigraphical, and historical analysis. Pericles emerges from the discussion as a masterpiece of later Greek prose and biography. Stadter's thorough and insightful analysis secures the importance of this text as both a work of literature and a vivid depiction of the society, culture, and politics of fifth-century Athens. Originally published in 1989. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

An eminent classicist uses ancient literature, history and archaeology to show us what it was actually like to live in Athens in the 5th century BC what the Athenians and Spartans ate, how they dressed, their jobs, theatre, laws and warfare.

Greek soldiers defeated numerically superior Persian armies in several battles near the beginning of the fifth century BCE. That set the stage for what is known as the Golden Age of Greece, several decades of almost unparalleled accomplishments in art, politics, and civil affairs. The leader during this inspired era was a citizen of Athens named Pericles. He led many important political changes in the city. He was also largely responsible for the development of the Acropolis. Buildings such as the Parthenon still inspire awe and admiration among countless numbers of visitors to the site every year.

The text features an extensive apparatus criticus and marginal notes. The introduction concludes with a chronology of events in the time of Pericles and an addendum dealing with textual matters. The book also includes vocabulary and four indices.